Neighbor News
North Suburban Consortium Awards $600,000 to Forestdale Park Assisted Living and Memory Care for Malden Redevelopment
The funding will lead the way for a local non-profit to begin construction, transforming it into a vibrant assisted living community.
The North Suburban Consortium (NSC) Board of Directors voted on March 25 to loan $600,000 to Volunteers of America Massachusetts for the new Forestdale Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Support facility. These funds were allocated through the NSC HOME Investment Partnership Program to assist in the redevelopment of the former McFadden Manor, a vacant building located at 341 Forest St, Malden MA.
The redevelopment project will transform the 41,000 square foot structure into 80 units of assisted living, of which 10 units will be designated for residents who live at or below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI). “This $600,000 HOME investment will help to unlock opportunities for Malden’s lower income residents to avail themselves of high-quality affordable assisted living units in this new transformative development,” stated Deborah Burke, Executive Director for the Malden Redevelopment Authority, which is the lead agency for the North Suburban Consortium.
The HOME Funding will help lead the way for the local non-profit to begin construction on the former city run nursing home, transforming it into a vibrant assisted living community with specialized memory support care. “We are incredibly grateful for this funding which will help create the new Forestdale Park Assisted Living to support the needs of seniors in the community. Our belief is that everyone, no matter their financial circumstances should have access to the highest levels of care,” stated Thomas Bierbaum, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Massachusetts.
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“I’m grateful to VOA for their investment in our community,” said Mayor Christenson. “This redevelopment supported with NSC funding will provide a level of care to individuals with memory loss as well as new units of much needed affordable housing to Malden seniors,” stated Mayor Christenson.
Noted Ward Five City Councilor Barbara Murphy said, “I am looking forward to working with Volunteers of America Massachusetts on this project as it will provide a state-of-the-art assisted living and memory care facility to support our senior population. The $600,000 HOME award is very exciting as it carves out 10 units that are guaranteed affordable.” The new Forestdale Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Support building is located in Ward Five.
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Construction of the project is expected to begin as early as this summer and be completed in the fall of 2016.
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About Volunteers of America Massachusetts: Volunteers of America Massachusetts is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving those most in need, especially the vulnerable, the hardest to serve, and those facing multiple challenges. Our work touches the mind, body, heart, and spirit of those we serve. Volunteers of America Massachusetts provides comprehensive programs for veterans, at-risk youth, adults and youth in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, elders in need of housing and health services, and those in need of mental health treatment.
About the Northern Suburban Consortium: The North Suburban Consortium is an
eight-city jurisdiction of which the City of Malden through the Malden Redevelopment Authority is the “lead” member. These eight communities have signed a cooperative agreement in order to gain access to U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) HOME program funds. These annual federal block grants are dedicated to the rehabilitation, creation and preservation of affordable housing.
